Safe Housing Kenya Project #57484

Rent & Equip houses for 30 street connected youths

by Association of Mission Volunteers

Project Report | Jul 6, 2023
Thanks to your help - Happy to report all WOW 5 members now off the streets and in houses!

By Obora, Dalmas Odedo | WOW Supervisor

Today marks the day when the last of our WOW 5 members moves into their own house. Joan and Sarah (not their real names) today were happy to finally be away from the streets and in their own house. Joan has a 4 month old daughter, Achieng and Sarah is due to give birth next month. For the past few weeks both girls have stayed at the emergency accommodation which we have at Edwina Gateley House. Their new house is just a ten minute walk away from Edwina Gateley House.

As we continue to raise funds for the project each house has doubled up with the young people sharing for now. Likewise in relation to furnishing we hope to give more items as further funds are raised.

For the past month we had the pleasure of a volunteer from Ireland, Ursula, spending time with us at WOW. From Day 1 she fitted right in with the staff and the "Wowsers". Among many other things during the month Ursula taught practically the whole WOW 5 group how to play chess. Last night we had her farewell with a barbeque and an outside move showing the "Queen of Katwe" which was greatly enjoyed. Thanks Ursula!

So on behalf of the WOW members thanks to everyone who has supported this project.

Permalink

Mar 7, 2023
Happy to be housed & set up Home!

By Obora, Dalmas Odedo | WOW Supervisor

This project of the World of Work (WOW) programme is geared towards supporting vulnerable youth in promoting their personal wellbeing by offering them basic and affordable accommodation. As the young person moves off the street for up to one year we will ensure that rent is covered as the young people identify sources of livelihood such that they can pay their own rents and in time move to better quality houses.

In the programme, we have increased the number of girls / young women. Out of the beneficiaries whom we have currently housed we have seven who are young mothers,. These include Betty (not her real name), a mother of one, who is now selling coffee and mandazi (like donuts) in Kitale town and who also provides catering services to other WOW participants on Fridays at the Kitale Museum activity each week. Another young person who has recently been housed is Patrick (also not his real name), a single father, who has just began an apprenticeship in metal fabrication/welding.

By the end of WOW 4 and as we begin with the next group WOW 5 this month, the programme has rented houses for 13 youths who are now either on apprentice attachments/placements or running their own business. 3 are training as mechanics (1 for motor vehicles and 2 for motorbikes), one as a welder, one has received a street food trolley (following appropriate training), and three young people are doing business with luggage trollies they were given by the programme.

In addition three youth have been supported in reuniting with their families and have moved back home to the counties of Bungoma, Turkana and Bondo.

For these young people it is an exciting but also a challenging time for them. We look forward to working with them and supporting them on their journey to a life away from the streets.

Permalink

‹ 1 2 3

About Project Reports

Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.

If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.